Improvement in fire-escapes



T THOMPSON.

PIZRE ESCAPE.

III

Patented Aug. 11, 1863.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII115111111 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS THOMPSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT lN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,505, dated August II, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Thomas THOMPSON, of the city and county of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes and I do hereby declare that the same are described and represented in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The nature of my invention consists in a hollow metal standard, to which a series of steps are fastened, arranged spirally around the standard, and outside of the steps a cylindrical metal covering to protect those who descend the steps from fire, which cylinder is provided with openings for the persons escaping to pass in and out of the fire-escape.

To enable others-skilled in the art to make and use my improvements, I will proceed to describe them, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

Figure -1 is an elevation of the fire-escape. Fig. 2is an elevation showing the openings into the fire-escape.

In these drawings, A is a cylindrical hollow standard of metal, with its lower end fastened to a proper base. B B are steps arranged spirally around the standard and fastened to it bythe risers O 0, which are provided with a curved flange, l), at one end, to fit the standard A, to which it is fastened by the bolt E, as shown in Fi2. The riscrsO Care made of metal, and the rear edge of the step, which may be made of wood or metal, is fastened to the lower edge of the riser next above it; and the front edge of the step rests on the top of theriser next below without otherfastening. Around these steps I make a cylindrical covering, F, of metal, with openings, G G, Fig. 2, for the people to enter from a burning building, and with a door, H, for them to pass out of the escape at the ground. On the opposite side of the covering from the openings G, I make some windows, I I, and the openings G may be provided with hinged doors to closethem, or with doors curved to correspond with the inside or outside of the cylinder, and arranged to slide in grooved cleats fastened to the inside or outside of the covering. The top of the metal covering may be provided with a roof, as shown in Fig. 1, or otherwise.

I contemplate that my fire-escape maybe provided with wheels, or arranged on a carriage, so as to be readily taken wherever required also, that the opening, inthe side may extend from the top to near the bottom, so as to accommodate windows of different heights. 7

I believe I have described and represented my improvements in fire-escapes so as to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use them without further invention or experiment.

I will now state what [desire to secure'by Letters Patent:

l. The curved flange D on the risers, in combination with the hollow standard for supporting the steps, as described.

2. Supporting the steps with the curved flanges D and hollow standar'd,-hy fastening the rear edge to the lower edge of the riser above, and letting the front edge rest on the riser below.

THOS. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

ALFD. HUNTER, JAMES LAURENSON. 

